|national_anthem = ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUmq1cpcglQ "Iblesi'Waltzenknecht"]''<br><small>''"Dance of the Iblesians"''[[National Anthem of Cartulia|[1]]]</small>
|national_anthem = ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUmq1cpcglQ "Danza de Dawi"]''<br><small>''"Dance of the Dawi"''[[National Anthem of Cartulia|[1]]]</small>
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|population_estimate = 5.2 million
|population_estimate = 78.2 million
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|population_density_km2 = 253.9
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|GDP_PPP = 3,770,000,000 Sigils
|GDP_PPP = [[Ishran Crown|¢]]449,259,000,000
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|GDP_PPP_year = 2022
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = 725 Sigils
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = ¢57,450
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|GDP_nominal = 377,000,000 Talents
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|GDP_nominal_rank = 72.5 Talents
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The '''Republic of Cartulia''', shortened to [[Cartulia]], is a [[wikipedia: Sovereign State|sovereign]] state located in western [[Ishr]]. It has a population of approximately 78.2 million people according to a 2023 Census, of whom the majority (97%) belong to the indigenous [[Cartulian People|Cartulian]] ethnic group. The capital city, [[Alcazr]] is located on the isle of Caditha and serves as the political and economic hub of the nation, with a population of 8.5 million it is also Cartulia's largest city. Cartulia shares a land border with [[Iblesia]] to the north, [[Kavo]] to the northeast, [[Trodenhiem]] to the east, and [[Promethia]] to the south. With a land area of 308,011 square kilometres it is one of the smallest nations in [[Ishr]] by land area, but also one of the most densely populated. Formed as a monarchy in 1067 CE, Cartulia became a [[wikipedia: Republic|Republic]] in 1881 following the Cartulian defeat during the [[Third Ishran War]]. Formerly a colonial power Cartulia officially surrendered the last of its overseas territories in 1956, but would continue to intervene militarily in its former colonies until the [[Ishran Court of Arbitration]] ruled further interventions illegal in 1989.
The '''Holy Empire of Cartulia''' ([[Iblesian Language|Iblesian]]: ''Bazhate la'Cartulia'', more commonly shortened to '''Cartulia''', is a Dawi nation located in southern continental Bezek. Cartulia shares a land border with the Human nation of Ras Vertaz to the west, and the Human nation of Olivel to the east. Mainland Cartulia is located on the island of [[Iblesia]] a short distance off the southern coast of Bezek, however the majority of the nation's land area is located on mainland Bezek to the north. The border with Ras Vertaz is defined by the line of the Zangurt River while the far border with Olivel is delineated by the Saangus Ridge. The Holy Empire is an [[wikipedia:Absolute Monarchy|absolute monarchy]] with its capital city, [[Caer Thorostravan]], located on the island of [[Iblesia]]; Caer Thorostravan is mostly a subterranean city occupying the majority of the island. The majority of Cartulia's urban centres can be found underground, with the exception of harbours and ports which tend to be built into sea cliffs and havens to take advantage of the natural terrain. Cartulia has a population of about 5.2 million people, the majority of whom are Dawi.
As of 2022 the total GDP of Cartulia was [[Ishran Crown|¢]]449.26 billion, with the GDPPC stable at around ¢57,450. This makes Cartulia one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Furthermore Cartulia boasts a HDI score of 0.950, which has remained stable since 2018. Cartulia is a founding member of both the [[Ishran Economic Cooperation Union|IECU]] and [[North Ishran Defence Alliance|NIDA]], and plays a significant role in regional politics and diplomacy.
Cartulia has been inhabited by Dawi for an unknown period of time; it is known that they were already present at the beginning of the First Era XSC because written language was adopted by the Dawi quite early on and much of this original writing was carved in stone. Cartulian historians from the Ack'Nanogh in Caer Thorostravan succeeded in deciphering the earliest known Dawi script found in modern day Cartulia, known as the Iblesian Progenitor Script two hundred years ago in 622 ICC which enabled them to read historic accounts of the Dawi inhabitants. Known Cartulian history has it that the Dawi were divided into ''Thurhata'', petty kingdoms ruled over by a series of powerful clan. Though the petty kingdoms were separate political entities the Dawi of the area are believed to have been part of a larger cultural group which formed the basis for the modern Iblesian culture and race. Around 900 years ago the ''Thurh'' (''lit.'' King) of Thorostravan, [[Sophrustrvanrinam I]], began the process of actively uniting the Iblesian Dawi and 822 years ago in 1 ICC (or 202 3e XOC, 620 XSC) the process was completed with the Oaths of Bruinkanz. Cartulia has been ruled as a single nation since that time under a system of absolute monarchy.
Cartulia has a developed economy with strong engineering and technology industries, particularly in the areas of hardware development and manufacture. [[Alcazr]] is also a global economic and banking hub with a long history in finance dating to the early 15th Century. Since the [[wikipedia: Industrial Revolution|industrial revolution]] Cartulia's economy has been developedwith a strong industrial base, initially fueled by the discovery of coal in the northern hill of Thaea; this allowed for the rapid growth of textile and steel production. The modern industrial economy in Cartulia is diverse, manufacturing various goods including cars, trains, ships, and aircraft. Otherwise the Cartulian economy relies heavily upon the oil and natural gas reserves located in the Kolthiraean Sea. The oil and natural gas industry accounts for approximately 19% of Cartulia's GDP and is one of the nation's largest employers.
The Cartulian monarchy operates according to the dictates of the Oaths of Irkangthanz in 1 ICC; the original document remains, cast in bronze, and set down the powers and rights of the monarch, as well as the laws of succession. The Oaths of Irkangthanz are named after [[Sophrustrvanrinam I]]'s heir [[Irkangthanz I]] who agreed to uphold the agreements made during the Oaths of the Bruinkanz, thus ensuring his succession and the continuance of Cartulia as a united nation. The basis of the Cartulian legal system is drawn from the pre-unification laws of the Thurhata of Thorostravan and was codified in 7 ICC with the creation of the ''Thrum'Nakhlanhur'' (''lit.:'' Book of Laws), this occurred during the reign of [[Irkangthanz I]] better known as Irkangthanz Thrumhurdir in Iblesian, or Irkangthanz Lawmaker in Xedan. Each clan and city holds its own Book of Laws into which all legal decisions are written, every five years all of these books are brought to the capital and collated; new laws are thus made based upon the decisions made in the preceding five years. The core Book of Laws remains and only the monarch or a majority of the Thrumhankanz can overturn existing laws. Cartulia's government is run and facilitated by a vast bureaucratic machine known as the Ba'Ephirimnon (''lit.:'' Royal Service), a kind of civil service which has functionaries present in every settlement overseeing everything from law enforcement to taxation.
After drawing criticism during the 1980s for its interventions in its former colonies of [[Ishval]] and [[Aramatheria]] Cartulia has faced accusations of human rights abuses and war crimes. These issues have damaged the nation's international reputation and have been a point of diplomatic tension ever since. Since the 1990s Cartulia has been the target for ethnic and religious extremist terrorism.
Cartulia is a reasonably wealthy nation. Its economy focuses on the Dawi tradition of stone and metal working as well as the extraction of minerals from the earth, however unlike many Dawi nations it also has a strong agricultural base above ground to support its subterranean enterprises. Cartulia operates an open economy in which serfdom has been abolished in favour of free individual enterprise; this has led to the creation of a guild and company system. Taxes are paid to the local ''Thurh'' who in turn pays taxes to the reigning ''Bazh''. The free enterprise and [[wikipedia:Capitalism|capitalist]] nature of the Cartulian economy, which focuses upon a meritocratic system of gaining wealth, has resulted in the development of a fluid class system and what can be described as a large Middle Class by comparison to many other nations. The national budget is managed by the Ba'Khadurgan'Lan (''lit.:'' Royal Bank) which is an organisation within the Royal Service. Meanwhile the nation's currency is issues, regulated, and maintained by the Ba'Khadurgan'Sen (''lit.:'' Royal Mint), another arm of the Royal Service, which is held in high esteem.
==Etymology and Terminology==
Cartulia takes its name from the ancient [[Dawi People|Dawi]] deity, Corto, who was the chief god in their pantheon. Corto also served as one of the [[wikipedia:Genius Loci|genius loci]] for the isle of Caditha, upon which the Cartulian capital is located. Structurally the name is derived from the [[Dawi Language|Dawi]], in which ''Cartu'' is the possessive and ''lia'' translates to 'land', making the complete word literally; 'Corto's Land'.
The army and navy of Cartulia are highly organised and run directly by the state; clans provide a tithe of youths to enter the military and Cartulian soldiers and seamen are trained in their craft from the age of six. The core of the Cartulian armed forces are the Ba'Agurkir (''lit.:'' Royal Marines) which serves as both naval ground forces and the army itself. The military is a meritocratic organisation which swears direct allegiance to the Bazh and is led by officers trained and appointed by a panel of retired officers and generals under the direction of the Royal Service.
==Etymology & Terminology==
The name Cartulia is derived from the mythological Iblesian hero [[Cartu Zothrazviraminan]] who overthrew the pre-Iblesian Idaasi civilisation which had enslaved the Dawi of the area. In modern [[Iblesian Language|Iblesian]] Cartulia has no direct translation however in Early Iblesian it literally meant ''"Liberated by Cartu"''. Even though the post-Idaasi Dawi did not unify under Cartu's reign they used his name to refer collectively to the lands they now inhabited and ruled. Due to the continued veneration of Cartu Zothrazviraminan at the time of Sophrustrvanrinam I's unification of the territories neither Sophrustrvanrinam nor his nation's name superseded that of Cartu.
Known in Xedan as 'The Holy Empire of Cartulia' this is in fact only a close approximation to the actual meaning of the nation's Iblesian title of ''Bazhate''. There is no direct translation of the term Bazhate into Xedan, though the title of Bazh roughly means Tyrant in most interpretations; however by nature the Bazh is also a figure of religious significance and veneration and is as much a spiritual leader as a political or secular one. Some scholars argue that a more appropriate title for the Bazh would be Emperor since they rule over multiple kingdoms and kings, however the Bazh is a more direct and centralised absolute monarch than an Emperor would typically be and the Cartulian kings are more akin to senior nobility in terms of their status and power.
The full Iblesian name for Cartulia is ''Bazhate la'Cartulia'', however it is more commonly referred to abroad by the name ''The Bazhate of Cartulia'' and only occasionally as the Holy Empire.
==History==
==History==
The lands of Cartulia have been continuously inhabited throughout recorded history, with early Dawi records indicating that for at least three centuries prior to the creation of writing an organised civilisation known as the Idaasi ruled over the territory. It is unknown what species the Idaasi were as they were wiped out by the Dawi at some time prior to the invention of writing and written records, however the Idaasi were powerful enough according to Iblesian mythology to enslave the Dawi of the region until the rise of [[Cartu Zothrazviraminan]] and his rebellion. The few remaining Idaasi ruins are enigmatic locations that hint at an incredibly advanced society, a prime example is the lone mountain at the centre of Iblesia which forms the core of the city of [[Caer Thorostravan]] which was raised through the use of powerful magic by the Idaasi for some unknown reason. Centuries of Dawi habitation of the mountain have obliterated the majority of the Idaasi structures in and around the capital city, however on the Bezek mainland near the coastal city of [[Havn Kodresku]] the ruins of an Idaasi city known as Nekhepolitur remain more or less untouched and are a site of superstitious dread and taboo. Cartu Zothrazviraminan's rebellion against the Idaasi and the subsequent obliteration of the Idaasi civilisation in its entirety are the subject of numerous ancient myths and legends, and though clear written records carved in stone or cast in metal do remain dating back over one thousand four hundred years, Cartulia scholars remain divided as to whether Cartu Zothrazviraminan and his accomplishments are a matter of fact of historic fiction.
===Thurhata (c. 320 BIC - 74 BIC)===
===Second Cartu-Lyrian War (1660 - 1666)===
According to the commonly accepted history of the Iblesian Dawi of Cartulia the ''Bruinkanz'' (''lit.:'' Greater Clans) separated and each founded their own independent petty kingdoms; collectively these kingdoms were referred to as the Thurhata and shared the common Iblesian Dawi culture. Though each of the Thurhata were sovereign and ruled by their own King the bonds of Cartu Zothrazviraminan's legendary rebellion and the shared Iblesian Dawi culture meant that the Thurhata were akin to a confederation which could easily unite in response to external crisis. An attempted seaborne invasion in 127 BIC by Adaasi raiders was met with the united front of all of the Thurhata even though only the coastal regions of Cartulia were affected by the raids and invasions, and from 123 BIC the patrolling of Cartulian waters for pirates and raiders became a joint responsibility. By 80 BIC, shortly before [[Sophrustrvanrinam I]] began unifying Cartulia, all of the smaller Thurhate had been absorbed into one or other of the larger Thurhata, leaving only five. The Thurhate of Thorostravan established its position as the pre-eminent power among the Thurhata in 74 BIC when the thrones of Kodresku and Ladizkadr were inherited by members of [[House Zhurgannan]], the ruling House of Thorostravan, thus making them tributaries of Sophrustrvanrinam I.
In 1660 tensions flared on the border regions between the Duchy of [[Lyria]] and [[Aramatheria|Cartulian Aramatheria]]. The Treaty of Larosche, which had ended the First Cartu-Lyrian War in 1635 had delineated the border between the Duchy's southern frontier with Cartulian held Aramatheria along a line of oases known as the Larosche Line. However the description of the Line failed to account for four oases in the region of Dhenebra which were absent from the maps used during the writing of the treaty. The Lyrian interpretation of the treaty assumed that these oases were included in the line, while the Cartulian position was that they be ignored.
===Unification (74 BIC - 1 BIC)===
The differing views as to where the Larosche Line lay meant that both Lyria and Cartulia laid claim to the strategically and economically important town of Dhenebra. Conflict first arose in October 1659, when tax collectors from both nations encountered one another in the course of their duties, leading to a small skirmish between their escorts. Attempts were then made to resolve the situation via diplomatic means. However by June 1660 the situation had not been settled; in an effort to decide the matter in their favour the Lyrian government dispatched a force to construct a trio of forts south of Dhenebra, in line with their claims. Unaware of this the Cartulian government chose to force the issue by sending another tax collector, Colonel Eduro Evante, this time with a much larger escort. Upon encountering one of the forts, half completed, the Cartulian force withdrew as they lacked artillery and sappers.
[[Image:ThrostravanUnificationSoldier.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small><center>Painting of one of Sophrustrvanrinam's royal guards, Kirha Ptanlainian.</center></small>]]Sophrustrvanrinam I used his position as the overlord of three out of the five Thurhata to leverage hegemony over the remaining two and in all but name the entirety of modern day Cartulia was under his dominion by 62 BIC. Initially the territories of Cartulia were not unified as a single state but rather as a series of states which owed tribute and fealty to the king of Thorostravan, records on the subject are unclear as to whether or not Sophrustrvanrinam I intended for this to be the case on a permanent basis, however in 24 BIC a rebellion in Ladizkadr and Gurshadkaz which intended to restore the power and end the system of fealty to Thorostravan spurred military action. For the following twenty four years, until the defeat of Ladizkadr and Gurshadkaz's forces in 1 BIC, Sophrustrvanrinam I waged a ruthless military campaign characterised by rapid manoeuvre and the practice of [[wikipedia:Decimation (Roman Army)|decimation]] of captured enemy soldiers. At the turn of the year following the surrender of the rebellion's leaders Sophrustrvanrinam I proclaimed the Bazhate and had himself crowned Bazh, forcing the leaders of the Greater Clans to accept the Oaths of the Bruinkanz.
During this time the military forces of the Iblesian Dawi were largely part-time, with only a limited warrior class in the form of personal bodyguards. Sophrustrvanrinam set himself apart by establishing a large professional fighting force was standardised training focused upon the idea of disciplined formation fighting. The bulk of Sophrustrvanrinam's army were spearmen wearing bronze and leather armour; what made these spearmen particularly effective however was that they carried a [[wikipedia:Scutum (Shield)|Kirnkr]] almost as tall as they were and were given a bronze or iron [[wikipedia:Kukri|Shukt]] as a secondary armament. Intended to fight in close formation and trained to form both [[wikipedia:Testudo formation|square]] and [[wikipedia:Schiltron|rounded]] formations depending upon the conditions, these spearmen were versatile and man for man far more effective than the less disciplined troops they faced. Sophrustrvanrinam was not content to rely upon heavy spear infantry alone however, and employed a number of more specialised troops including skirmishers and archers as well as a small cadre of elite cavalry mounted on great mastiffs. Most notable among Sophrustrvanrinam's forces though were his royal guard, led by Kirha Ptanlainian, who were each gifted uniquely engraved plate armour and a two handed axe; according to contemporary accounts no rebel formation or force could withstand a heavy infantry charge from Sophrustrvanrinam's royal guard.
Upon Evante's return Cartulia broke off the negotiations and declared war. Cartulia immediately prepared its small standing army an mustered a levy of conscripts, mostly armed with billhooks and pikes. Meanwhile Evante raised his own force of armoured musketeers, and the King raised three regiments of artillery. This rapid mobilisation did not prevent the Lyrians from completing their forts as these troops had to be transported from Cartulia to Aramatheria by sea.
===Post-Unification (1 ICC - 22 ICC)===
In the interim the local colonial forces, including native levies and Zahrian nomadic tribes, were defeated at the Battle of Nuram but withdrew in good order with Zahrian skirmishers covering the retreat. The victorious Lyrian force then advanced south, towards Sharaj, the administrative capital of Cartulian Aramatheria. The city was enveloped, but the Lyrians lacked heavy artillery and settled in for a siege.
Following the unification of Cartulia by Sophrustrvanrinam I the process of consolidated and solidifying the unity of the nation was begun. Sophrustrvanrinam I began with the creation of the Royal Service in 2 ICC and left its formalisation and management to his trusted advisor [[Jurga Keladnadurim]] while he proceeded to make a tour around the newly unified nation of Cartulia with the army he had used to crush the rebellions in Ladizkadr and Gurshadkaz; the progress was slow because the army was required to lay a basic road everywhere it went to connect the overland settlements of the Bezek mainland to one another; they also established fortifications near each major hold's surface entrance which were manned by troops taken from the forces he brought with him. Additionally everywhere Sophrustrvanrinam I went he left a cadre of bureaucrats to ensure that his will was carried out. Contemporary historians view the reign of Sophrustrvanrinam I as one of violence and oppression and though he unified the country it is the prevailing view that he was a bloodthirsty tyrant who brutally crushed any hint of dissent or rebellion no matter how trivial; at the time however, perhaps as a form of early propaganda, the intelligentsia and academic classes portrayed Sophrustrvanrinam I as a strategic genius.
====Oaths of Succession (1 ICC)====
The main Cartulian forces landed in Jafna in southern Aramatheria in November 1660 and settled in for the winter, establishing fortifications and expanding the road network in the surrounding areas so as to enhance the availability of supply. The fighting would resume in March when the Cartulian relief column made it to Sharaj. In the ensuing battle the Lyrian army was devastated as they still lacked artillery and had started to run low on powder for their muskets due to the continuous raiding of their supply lines by Zahrian nomads loyal to the Cartulians. Following the Relief of Sharaj the Lyrian commander, Baron Ernest Darrow, agreed to surrender and voluntarily become a Cartulian hostage (along with his staff and adjutants) in exchange for the lives of his remaining men.
One of the terms by which the Bruinkanz had agreed to the Oaths which had ended the rebellion and unified Cartulia was that Sophrustrvanrinam I establish a clear line of succession and guaranteed the continuity of his line's rule. Sophrustrvanrinam had many children by multiple wives and tradition held that the eldest child of each of a man's wives inherited an equal portion of their father's estate upon his death; this however was an unacceptable arrangement for the Bruinkanz and for the Thrumhankanz who sought to prevent further bloodshed and war between the Iblesian Dawi. Thus, three months after proclaiming the Bazhate Sophrustrvanrinam instructed Jurga Keladnadurim, the head of the Royal Service, to form a set of oaths to be sworn by Irkangthanz, the most promising of his sons and a further set of oaths to be sworn by his remaining children, to ensure a smooth succession. On 15th Thrurn 1 ICC Irkangthanz made the Oaths of Irkangthanz, securing his place as the sole heir to the throne. Those among Sophrustrvanrinam's remaining children who accepted Irkangthanz as their next Bazh made the Submission of the Gruningsanth in 4 ICC, formalising their places in the line of succession. Several of the Bazh's children refused to swear the Submission were put to death along with their mothers, setting a precedent which would last until 444 ICC.
====Reign of Irkangthanz I (5 ICC - 23 ICC)====
The Cartulian force, now under the command of Eduro Evante who had been promoted to Brigadier, established their supply lines between Jafna and Sharaj and improved the main road between the two cities, before moving north to Nuram. This delay drew criticism in Cartulia, but Evante retained his position due to the continued success of his subordinates, Major Galvo Nujant and Captain Eduro Rossi, who led their Zahrian irregulars in a rapid skirmishing campaign. By July 1661 Nujant had successfully bypassed the line of forts established by the Lyrians and was actively disrupting Lyrian logistics. Rossi meanwhile had effectively eliminated Lyria's scouting forces.
[[Irkangthanz I]] assumed the throne in 5 ICC upon the death of his father. Unlike his father who was a warrior by nature Irkangthanz was far more interested in the strategy on politics of rule. Unsatisfied with the disparate and ill defined nature of law in Cartulia Irkangthanz began the process of forging a unified and codified system of laws, starting with the creation of the Thrum'Nakhlanhur (''lit.:'' Book of Laws). Irkangthanz placed the responsibility of administering justice to the Thrumhankanz, a council of elders from all of the Greater Clans. A copy of the Book of Laws was sent to each major settlement and given into the care of the local Thurh. The focus of Irkangthanz I's rule was the formalisation and standardisation of law throughout Cartulia, as well as the establishment of the rights of his people. One significant issue was the enforcement of serfdom among the surface dwelling communities of Dawi who tended the fields; up to this point serfdom had not been universal but it was made so by Irkangthanz I.
Much of Irkangthanz I's reign was defined by brutality and violence. The Bazh had inherited his father's fervent desire to unite Cartulia and maintain the nation, but lacked his father's principles and scruples, in addition the new Bazh was considered to be paranoid and given to bouts of hysteria. This extreme paranoia was displayed through the constant arrests for treason that defined his reign and though the accused always received a trial under the dictates of the laws Irkangthanz had established more often than not the evidence provided was insubstantial or based on hearsay. During his eighteen year reign Irkangthanz I created and fostered an atmosphere of terror that no-one dared to openly resist due to the loyalty of his troops and the Royal Service to him.
Evante opted to wait out the notoriously hostile Aramatherian summer in Sharaj, drilling his soldiers extensively in fire discipline and reloading. When he finally left Sharaj in force in August the Cartulian army had high morale, though doubts remained about Evante's cautious approach to command.
In 23 ICC Irkangthanz I died under mysterious circumstances. I was believed at the time that he had been assassinated at the behest of members of the Bruinkanz in order to end the terror and progress to mare stable regime; however more recent research into previously lost diaries and records indicates that he was in fact murdered by his daughter and heir Virathrana in order to prevent him from destroying their line's hold on the Cartulian throne.
The campaign of August 1661 to February 1662 showed just how audacious Evante could be, and by October the Cartulians had captured the fort of Kensey and raised Fort Levenson. This left only the westernmost Fort Anders standing in Lyrian hands. The Cartulians established winter quarters in Fort Kensey, but rather than wait for spring Evante pushed on into February, capturing Dhenebra. The Cartulian advance only stopped when Nujant's force were caught in an ambush and destroyed, exposing the Cartulian flank. Evante withdrew to Dhenebra and requested reinforcement to account for the loss of Nujant's force.
===Early Bazhate Period (23 ICC - 320 ICC)===
Military action on land cooled during 1662 as both sides built up their forces. At sea however the situation grew in intensity as the Lyrian navy tried to block the flow of reinforcements from Cartulia. Initial victories at Orant and Jambae weakened the Cartulian position and forced the Colonial Fleet to shelter in port, but the arrival of the Red Squadron under Admiral Gavrel turned the situation, culminating in the Battle of Serna in January 1664, which scattered the Lyrian force.
The Early Bazhate Period began in 23 ICC with the untimely death of [[Irkangthanz I]] and the succession of his eldest daughter [[Virathrana I]]. The period was largely defined by the development of Cartulia from a pseudo-feudal society into a centralised and habitually united nation, and is considered to have come to an end in 320 ICC with the rise of the Cartulian Nationalist and Leveller movements.
[[Image:Virthran I.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<small><center>State Portrait of Virathrana I.</center></small>]]The central policy during Virathrana I's reign was that of converting the institutions her grandfather had created in order to ensure his hegemony over Cartulia's clans and Thurhata into centralised national institutions. In 29 ICC she instructed the Royal Service to reform her father's army into the Ba'Agurkir (''lit.:'' Royal Marines), expanding its recruitment pool significantly by requiring that each clan provide an annual tithe of six year old children to be sent to Caer Thorostravan to begin their training. Virathrana's military reforms did not end with recruitment; she further introduced the concept of mass standardisation of equipment and the specialisation of troops within a tight organisational structure based around one hundred man formations known as ''Kipari''. While her reforms did not bring an end to the system of political appointments to high military command, or nepotism with regards to officer candidacy, it did create the precedent and principle by which a meritocratic system could be introduced later. Virathrana would continue to focus on military reforms throughout her reign, though the only combat her reformed army would see would come in the form of a series of insurrections and coastal raids by pirates. Virathrana's reign came to an end in 121 ICC with her death at the age of one hundred and thirteen, and she was succeeded by her son [[Irkangthanz II]], and was enshrined as Virathrana Santogurkir (''lit.:'' Virathrana Swordmaker).
March 1664 saw renewed fighting on land, Evante hoped to push hard and surprise Lyrian planners by pressing the attack closer to the summer months than usual. Despite heavy losses to attrition the strategy worked and Fort Anders fell in June, followed by a thrust past the Larosche Line in July which allowed the Cartulian army to rest for the summer in the Lyrian town of Kabur.
Irkangthanz II shared similar motivations to his mother and was fascinated by military matters; however unlike his mother who had inherited a nation with room for reform and a need to develop, Irkangthanz had inherited a disciplined and effective army in the form of the Royal Marines established by his mother. Instead Irkangthanz set his eyes upon the navy; though the Royal Marines were trained and intended to serve at sea as well as on land, the organisation behind the ships that actually carried them was far less effective or well conceived. Sophrustrvanrinam I had only needed to use his ships as a means of transporting troops along the coastline, most of the fighting during the unification had taken place inland and as a result he had seen no need to further organise a naval force during the unification. Prior to the reforms of Irkangthanz II the navy was practically non-existent with civilian and merchant vessels being conscripted during times of conflict; a system which though cheap, was not particularly effective and left Cartulia vulnerable to piracy and coastal raiders. Irkangthanz commissioned the construction of the nation's first dedicated military shipyard in Havn Thorostravan in 122 ICC and construction was completed in 129 ICC; the shipyard was massive, carved into the rock of the sea cliffs north of the city proper and could be used to construct four ships at a time. Under Irkangthanz's direction the Royal Service established departments responsible for the management of the marines and the navy; these would include institutions with the goal of equipping, supplying, and maintaining soldiers and ships.
The fighting resumed in January of 1666, but only briefly. The loss of the Lyrian navy at Serna combined with the poor state of Lyria's army meant that their position was untenable. The Lyrian government sued for peace and subsequently surrendered the three forts, Dhenebra, and Kabur.
The reign of Irkangthanz II also saw the rapid growth of trade as well as the beginning of international trade overseas for Cartulia itself. The Greater Clans could afford to invest in trading expeditions that brought back new materials and ideas; Irkangthanz himself however was only passably interested in economic concerns and was content to allow the situation to manage itself. As long as the Greater Clans continued to pay taxes he did not seem to mind where they got their coin from. The governmental indifference to the growth of trade left it in many places totally unregulated; on the one hand this had the benefit of causing banking to take hold as well as modern mercantile practices, but on the other without regulation wealth disparity was extreme and a system of indentured servitude evolved. While income inequality was nothing new at this time poverty became rampant and the nation faced a series of food shortages due to wider mismanagement. At the time of Irkangthanz II's death in 158 ICC the nation was facing growing food shortages and a rising infant mortality rate.
===First Cartulian Civil War (1668 - 1674)===
[[Image:Virastaviran I.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small><center>State Portrait of Virastaviran I.</center></small>]]Irkangthanz II was succeeded by his son Virastaviran I in 158 ICC. Virastaviran I was the first of the Cartulian Bazhi to have been born heir to the throne and was the first who by no means had to worry about preserving his rule against internal threats. Sometimes known as Virastaviran Chosendikr (''lit.:'' Virastavrian the Complacent), he did little to help restore his nation's former economic strength. The reign of Virastaviran I was marked by a period of general malaise among the upper classes and the suffering of the poor as a result of the rampant growth of exploitative capitalism; the result of this was an overall contraction of the economy and weakening of the nation's prestige. However culturally the nation flourished and entered a golden age of art and literature as Virastaviran and other members of the elite began to commission works of art and writing. Notably various methods of acid etching were first discovered and employed in Cartulia during the later years of his reign, allowing the more effective practice of creating books and texts with pages made from copper and bronze.
==Geography==
During the reign of Virastaviran I Iblesian Dawi artistry developed and examples of statuary and earthen goods from his reign are now highly sought after status symbols. Prior to the reign of Virastaviran a great deal of the artwork created in Cartulia was rendered in stone, with only the very wealthy commissioning painted works, the primary focus was ensuring that the art would last, a view which declined over time as less permanent modes of artwork which provided more versatility became readily available. Paintings started to be worked onto canvas and boards in place of walls or stone tablets and more and more portable artwork was created, rather than works integral to a building. A transition was made away from the ancient Dawi tradition of carving their artworks on a grand scale.
==Government and Politics==
Virastaviran II began his reign in 204 ICC upon his father's death from tuberculosis. Virastaviran II was a much more austere character than his father who valued simple pleasures and much of the works of art his father had accumulated were thus sold off in order to fund national infrastructural projects. A highly religious man Virastaviran II proceeded with a series of policies aimed at improving the lot of the lower classes in society, however he took a very high minded approach to the task. Believing that the development of new roads both above and below ground would be critical he set about on a massive program of road building, using his military as a workforce. He also introduced foreign ideas such as water wheels and windmills which markedly increased agricultural output. Virastaviran II further wrote a number of texts regarding good governance, the most successful of which has been taught to all of his descendants to this day. Despite the developments spurred on by Virastaviran II standard of living improvements for the poorest in Cartulia did not occur leading to widespread resentment amongst the populace; several attempts to end serfdom and spur on further social reform were made however Virastaviran II firmly opposed such radical policies.
==Economy==
Virastaviran II was succeeded by his daughter Lhamisarivrana I in 266 ICC upon her father's natural death. She inherited a strong and powerful central government and a well developed national infrastructure; however she also inherited the problems that her father's reign had created. The system of serfdom was starting to strangle the economy and hinder the nation's development, in many cases children were effectively being sold into slavery, and the country struggled to develop a large and diverse middle class as a result. True craftsmen and artisans were becoming increasingly rare and the nation started to suffer from a significant [[wikipedia:Human capital flight|brain drain]] as the educated and skilled sought better opportunities elsewhere. As a means of countering these issues Lhamisarivrana I established a number of institutions including Royal Academies, and Royal Societies to support and promote the evolving [[Iblesian Enlightenment]] ideas, however like her father she refused vehemently to concede to demands to end serfdom outright, instead introducing reforms allowing serfs to buy their way out of bondage.
==Demographics==
===Ethnicity===
During Lhamisarivrana I's reign the twin ideologies of Cartulian Nationalism and the Levellers developed and grew in popularity, culminating in the Loyal Revolution of 311 ICC during which a coalition of serfs led and supported by merchants and tradesmen started to occupy local counting houses and Royal Service offices, refusing to pay taxes or allow the normal functions of government. The Loyal Revolution would last for six years while the Ba'Agurkir struggled to put it down. Several units within the armed forces and within local militia and law enforcement that were sent to deal with the revolutionaries actually defected once they discovered the nature of the movement's demands. Ultimately the Loyal Revolution ended in 317 ICC with the [[Counting House Siege (317 ICC)|Counting House Siege]] in [[Havn Thorostravan]], during which the movement was broken and forced to capitulate after Lhamisarivrana I ordered her Royal Guard to storm the building. For the remaining two years of her reign Lhamisarivrana I attempted, with limited success, to round up the ringleaders behind the revolution, until her death in 319 ICC. She was succeeded by her son Azdahlriman I who a year later in 320 ICC bowed to widespread pressure and abolished serfdom.
According to the 2020 census 97% of Cartulia's population considered themselves to be ethnic Cartulians, with academic studies generally supporting the existence of a largely homogeneous population. Traditional history holds that the present day Cartulians are directly descended from the more diverse Dawi Peoples who inhabited the lands during prehistory.
===High Bazhate Period (321 ICC - 644 ICC)===
===Late Bazhate Period (644 ICC - 810 ICC)===
===Modern Era (811 ICC - Present)===
Cartulians are described as having tan skin, with dark brown hair and brown eyes being most common.
|align="center"|Refined iron ingots,<br>tools, armour,<br>weapons, [[wikipedia:Steel|steel]]
|align="center"|Iron is one of the main mineral resources found in Cartulia. Mined extensively throughout the nation it forms the basis of much of the Cartulian metalworking industry, whether it is formed into steel or kept (relatively) pure for other purposes. The iron mining and working industries in Cartulia are vast and extensive with the Ironworker's Guild being one of the largest, wealthiest, and most prestigious of the nation's guilds. Iron has been extracted, refined, and worked in Cartulia since time immemorial, though in the Iblesian Dawi folklore and mythology it is seen as a fickle and unreliable metal unless tempered with another material for its softness and tendency to rust.
|align="center"|Objects made from bronze have been manufactured in Cartulia in one form or another for millennia. The earliest extant examples of bronze tools dates back at least four thousand years and the legendary Dawi hero [[Cartu Zothrazviraminan]] was said to have used a cast bronze warhammer in battle. Although the use of bronze in weapons and armour has largely given way to the use of iron and later steel the manufacture of bronze and bronzeware remains a strong part of the nation's industry with domestic products, tools, decorative items, and jewellery rendered in the material remaining popular. The Ba'Khadurgan'Sen even issues a bronze coin.
|align="center"|The development of steel from iron took root in Cartulia fair back in the nation's history and its properties made it highly sought after and much preferred to iron or bronze. Experimentation with the production of steel in terms of the properties, quality, and quantity that could be manufactured became a matter of great interest and Cartulian steelsmiths rapidly developed their own favoured techniques. Modern Cartulia produces two principle kinds of steel in sizeable quantities; [[wikipedia:Damascus Steel|Jarkatnan]] and [[wikipedia:Crucible Steel|Cartulian]] steel, both of which are exported as ingots or actual materials.
The Republic of Cartulia, shortened to Cartulia, is a sovereign state located in western Ishr. It has a population of approximately 78.2 million people according to a 2023 Census, of whom the majority (97%) belong to the indigenous Cartulian ethnic group. The capital city, Alcazr is located on the isle of Caditha and serves as the political and economic hub of the nation, with a population of 8.5 million it is also Cartulia's largest city. Cartulia shares a land border with Iblesia to the north, Kavo to the northeast, Trodenhiem to the east, and Promethia to the south. With a land area of 308,011 square kilometres it is one of the smallest nations in Ishr by land area, but also one of the most densely populated. Formed as a monarchy in 1067 CE, Cartulia became a Republic in 1881 following the Cartulian defeat during the Third Ishran War. Formerly a colonial power Cartulia officially surrendered the last of its overseas territories in 1956, but would continue to intervene militarily in its former colonies until the Ishran Court of Arbitration ruled further interventions illegal in 1989.
As of 2022 the total GDP of Cartulia was ¢449.26 billion, with the GDPPC stable at around ¢57,450. This makes Cartulia one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Furthermore Cartulia boasts a HDI score of 0.950, which has remained stable since 2018. Cartulia is a founding member of both the IECU and NIDA, and plays a significant role in regional politics and diplomacy.
Cartulia has a developed economy with strong engineering and technology industries, particularly in the areas of hardware development and manufacture. Alcazr is also a global economic and banking hub with a long history in finance dating to the early 15th Century. Since the industrial revolution Cartulia's economy has been developedwith a strong industrial base, initially fueled by the discovery of coal in the northern hill of Thaea; this allowed for the rapid growth of textile and steel production. The modern industrial economy in Cartulia is diverse, manufacturing various goods including cars, trains, ships, and aircraft. Otherwise the Cartulian economy relies heavily upon the oil and natural gas reserves located in the Kolthiraean Sea. The oil and natural gas industry accounts for approximately 19% of Cartulia's GDP and is one of the nation's largest employers.
After drawing criticism during the 1980s for its interventions in its former colonies of Ishval and Aramatheria Cartulia has faced accusations of human rights abuses and war crimes. These issues have damaged the nation's international reputation and have been a point of diplomatic tension ever since. Since the 1990s Cartulia has been the target for ethnic and religious extremist terrorism.
Cartulia takes its name from the ancient Dawi deity, Corto, who was the chief god in their pantheon. Corto also served as one of the genius loci for the isle of Caditha, upon which the Cartulian capital is located. Structurally the name is derived from the Dawi, in which Cartu is the possessive and lia translates to 'land', making the complete word literally; 'Corto's Land'.
History
Second Cartu-Lyrian War (1660 - 1666)
In 1660 tensions flared on the border regions between the Duchy of Lyria and Cartulian Aramatheria. The Treaty of Larosche, which had ended the First Cartu-Lyrian War in 1635 had delineated the border between the Duchy's southern frontier with Cartulian held Aramatheria along a line of oases known as the Larosche Line. However the description of the Line failed to account for four oases in the region of Dhenebra which were absent from the maps used during the writing of the treaty. The Lyrian interpretation of the treaty assumed that these oases were included in the line, while the Cartulian position was that they be ignored.
The differing views as to where the Larosche Line lay meant that both Lyria and Cartulia laid claim to the strategically and economically important town of Dhenebra. Conflict first arose in October 1659, when tax collectors from both nations encountered one another in the course of their duties, leading to a small skirmish between their escorts. Attempts were then made to resolve the situation via diplomatic means. However by June 1660 the situation had not been settled; in an effort to decide the matter in their favour the Lyrian government dispatched a force to construct a trio of forts south of Dhenebra, in line with their claims. Unaware of this the Cartulian government chose to force the issue by sending another tax collector, Colonel Eduro Evante, this time with a much larger escort. Upon encountering one of the forts, half completed, the Cartulian force withdrew as they lacked artillery and sappers.
Upon Evante's return Cartulia broke off the negotiations and declared war. Cartulia immediately prepared its small standing army an mustered a levy of conscripts, mostly armed with billhooks and pikes. Meanwhile Evante raised his own force of armoured musketeers, and the King raised three regiments of artillery. This rapid mobilisation did not prevent the Lyrians from completing their forts as these troops had to be transported from Cartulia to Aramatheria by sea.
In the interim the local colonial forces, including native levies and Zahrian nomadic tribes, were defeated at the Battle of Nuram but withdrew in good order with Zahrian skirmishers covering the retreat. The victorious Lyrian force then advanced south, towards Sharaj, the administrative capital of Cartulian Aramatheria. The city was enveloped, but the Lyrians lacked heavy artillery and settled in for a siege.
The main Cartulian forces landed in Jafna in southern Aramatheria in November 1660 and settled in for the winter, establishing fortifications and expanding the road network in the surrounding areas so as to enhance the availability of supply. The fighting would resume in March when the Cartulian relief column made it to Sharaj. In the ensuing battle the Lyrian army was devastated as they still lacked artillery and had started to run low on powder for their muskets due to the continuous raiding of their supply lines by Zahrian nomads loyal to the Cartulians. Following the Relief of Sharaj the Lyrian commander, Baron Ernest Darrow, agreed to surrender and voluntarily become a Cartulian hostage (along with his staff and adjutants) in exchange for the lives of his remaining men.
The Cartulian force, now under the command of Eduro Evante who had been promoted to Brigadier, established their supply lines between Jafna and Sharaj and improved the main road between the two cities, before moving north to Nuram. This delay drew criticism in Cartulia, but Evante retained his position due to the continued success of his subordinates, Major Galvo Nujant and Captain Eduro Rossi, who led their Zahrian irregulars in a rapid skirmishing campaign. By July 1661 Nujant had successfully bypassed the line of forts established by the Lyrians and was actively disrupting Lyrian logistics. Rossi meanwhile had effectively eliminated Lyria's scouting forces.
Evante opted to wait out the notoriously hostile Aramatherian summer in Sharaj, drilling his soldiers extensively in fire discipline and reloading. When he finally left Sharaj in force in August the Cartulian army had high morale, though doubts remained about Evante's cautious approach to command.
The campaign of August 1661 to February 1662 showed just how audacious Evante could be, and by October the Cartulians had captured the fort of Kensey and raised Fort Levenson. This left only the westernmost Fort Anders standing in Lyrian hands. The Cartulians established winter quarters in Fort Kensey, but rather than wait for spring Evante pushed on into February, capturing Dhenebra. The Cartulian advance only stopped when Nujant's force were caught in an ambush and destroyed, exposing the Cartulian flank. Evante withdrew to Dhenebra and requested reinforcement to account for the loss of Nujant's force.
Military action on land cooled during 1662 as both sides built up their forces. At sea however the situation grew in intensity as the Lyrian navy tried to block the flow of reinforcements from Cartulia. Initial victories at Orant and Jambae weakened the Cartulian position and forced the Colonial Fleet to shelter in port, but the arrival of the Red Squadron under Admiral Gavrel turned the situation, culminating in the Battle of Serna in January 1664, which scattered the Lyrian force.
March 1664 saw renewed fighting on land, Evante hoped to push hard and surprise Lyrian planners by pressing the attack closer to the summer months than usual. Despite heavy losses to attrition the strategy worked and Fort Anders fell in June, followed by a thrust past the Larosche Line in July which allowed the Cartulian army to rest for the summer in the Lyrian town of Kabur.
The fighting resumed in January of 1666, but only briefly. The loss of the Lyrian navy at Serna combined with the poor state of Lyria's army meant that their position was untenable. The Lyrian government sued for peace and subsequently surrendered the three forts, Dhenebra, and Kabur.
First Cartulian Civil War (1668 - 1674)
Geography
Government and Politics
Economy
Demographics
Ethnicity
According to the 2020 census 97% of Cartulia's population considered themselves to be ethnic Cartulians, with academic studies generally supporting the existence of a largely homogeneous population. Traditional history holds that the present day Cartulians are directly descended from the more diverse Dawi Peoples who inhabited the lands during prehistory.
Cartulians are described as having tan skin, with dark brown hair and brown eyes being most common.
